Rev. Dianne Scott-Fowler

Click here to edit subtitle

STUFF (
Stockport User Friendly Fellowship ) was established in 1999 and has a proven
track record of commitment to service users within the mental health community,
on wards as well as in community settings. Whilst it is well recognised that
one in four people have mental health related issues STUFF also recognizes that
during the transformation plans throughout Greater Manchester service provision
within Stockport is rapidly changing. Because of the extend of the problems,
people are facing cuts to budgets, it is more important than ever that service
users who from their first hand experience of mental health services continue
to be at the forefront in giving a voice to mental health service users. We
believe that service users have many years of experience in mental health and
mental health service provision are the experts in their own wellbeing. The
organization is a pooling of skills and enthusiasm of a collection of very
different individuals.

The
organization aims to:

- Challenge
institutionalised discrimination and put equality back on the agenda for
mainstream mental health services

- Make the policy of
‘getting the right support, at the right time, in the right place, from the
right person’ a reality

- Reflect the social model
of disability and promote informed choice and alternatives to medication where
appropriate

- Challenge
stereotypical images of people with mental health issues

- Give
service users choices

- Recognize
individuality and support people on their recovery journey

- Enable service users taking
the person centred approach to support them into reaching outcomes that are
specific to their individual need

We also offer monthly workshops.
The theme throughout this coming 12 months is Wellbeing through Art Therapy

What do
we offer?

As a
service user led organisation we are currently evaluating and monitoring the
impact of the transformation within Stockport to mental health service
provision to Service users and family members, we have monitored this over the
past two years, we have identified the need to offer an Active Listening Post
service/during the weekends including Bank Holidays where the take up has been
steadily growing.

We have
been doing this over the last two years and have recognised there has been an
increasing need for our input due to the damage done by cuts to public funding
alongside changes to the benefit system in regards to the uptake of food bank
vouchers, referrals for support with ESA/PIP forms and benefit sanctions,
practical support to GPs, hospital appointments, support with housing needs
i.e. advocacy service supporting people to stay in their own homes. We are here
for tea and chat in a safe environment where you will be heard
non-judgementally by people who have been in similar situations.

STUFF ( Stockport User Friendly Fellowship )
would like to thank for their support over the 18 years the service users, the
family members and grassroots organizations who have also recognised the unmet
needs within the mental health community.

Contact details:

Dianne, Naomi, Janina, Bart

Are available at the Mental Health
Unit: Wednesdays 12-5pm and Sundays 1-4pm (appointments
outside of these hours also)

Mondays and Fridays in Community
Settings (Wellbeing Centre)

We also offer evening support within
the local community on the second Monday of the month at Disability Stockport, 23
High St, Stockport SK1 1EG 6-8pm, out of
office times by appointment.